Roll scraper for cane mills or the like



Jan 6, 1931.

W. DUNN ROLL SCRAPER FOR CANE MILLS on THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y Filed Feb. 1.6, 1928 Jan 6, 1931. w. N

ROLL SCRAPER FOR CANE MILLS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16. 19 28 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BllHi w. M. W

v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MW WW aw f m /Z/ 5% T W. DUNN ROLL SCRAPER FOR CANE MILLS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16,1928

Jan 6, 1931.

Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM DUNN, OF MACABI, CUBA ROLL SCRAPER FOR CANE MILLS OR THE LIKE Application filed February 16, 1328.

This invention relates to scrapers for cane mills and the like, and more particularly to scrapers adapted to bear against the surfaces of the rolls of a sugar cane mill, and to re,- move any cane adhering thereto.

The cane mills generally in use comprise a preliminary crusher composed of one or more cooperating pairs of rolls which are adapted to crush and disintegrate to a certain extent sugar cane, which is fed to them as a deep blanket of stalks, the crusher being followed by a tandem of three-roll mills through which the crushed and disintegrated cane is passed in order to press it and extract the juice therefrom. In order to give the crusher rolls greater efliciency in crushing and disintegrating the cane these rolls are generally provided with circumferential ribs substan tially V-shaped in cross section and to remove any cane adhering to the rolls, and there being considerable tendency for the cane to collect between the ribs, scrapers are provided which are in contact with the surfaces of the rolls, and which are provided with roll engaging portions so shaped that they may enter the grooves between the ribs.

The rolls of the three roll mills, at least those in the tandem which are closest to the crusher, are generally provided with circumferential ribs, the pitch of these ribs being somewhat finer than the pitch of the ribs in the crusher rolls on account of the difierence in the condition of the cane presented thereto. In order to remove any cane adhering to these rolls, it is generally the practice to provide scrapers which are, except for the character of the surface with which they are in contact, quite similar in form to the scrapers provided for the crusher rolls.

It is highly desirable, in order to efiiciently remove the adhering cane, to provide scrapers which are so shaped that they are in contact with the rolls with which they cooperate substantially throughout the length thereof, and in order that such a contact may be had it is customary to give each scraper the requisite shape before it is placed in the mill, and to finish shaping it by urging it against the roll with which it is intended to be used, the roll grinding off or wearing off the high spots Serial No. 254,771.

until the scraper is in contact with the roll throughout its length. As one of the primary objects of my invention, I contemplate a scraper in which this grinding or Wearing in is eliminated entirely or obviated to a considerable extent.

In a more specific aspect, the invention contemplates a scraper made up of a plurality of sections, each of which is capable of independent movement towards and away from the roll with which it cooperates.

It sometimes happens that one or more teeth in a scraper become broken and it is customary, under such circumstances, to mill a new set of teeth which, it will be readily understood, must be ground in, as set forth above.

As another object of my invention, I contemplate a scraper in which only those teeth that become broken need be removed, and in which another tooth or other teeth may be readily inserted in their place.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the repairing of a small section of the scraper, or, if desired, an individual tooth, without disturbing the remainder of the scraper or its relationship to the roll with which it cooperates.

A still further object of the invention resides in a novel means provided for adjusting the scraper sections towards and away from the roll with which they cooperate.

An additional object of the invention resides in a novel mounting means for the scraper.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a three-roll mill having my improved form of scrapers shown therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the uppermost scraper shown in Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the scraper shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the scraper shown in Fig. 2, but on an enlarged scale;

the scraper against the roll at all times.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line 55 of Fig. 2, but on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a crusher, partly in section showing a preferred form of my scraper attached thereto;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the scraper shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View, along line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing a modified form; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view along line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings in which I have illustrated my invention by showing some preferred embodiments thereof and with particular reference to Fig. 6, the numeral 11 indicates in general a preliminary crusher through which the cane is first passed to preparehit for the subsequent juice expressing operations, which are carried out, generally speaking, in the tandem of three-roll mills,

and which is provided, as is usual in such crushers, with a frame 12, in which are mounted rolls 13 and 14, of which the roll 13 is mounted in relatively fixed bearings, while the roll 14 is mounted in movable bearings being urged towards roll 13 by suitable means, such as hydraulic bushing 15. The bearings for the rolls and the hydraulic bushing may .be of any usual type or construction and are not shown herein in detail.

After being acted on by the preliminary crusher the cane is discharged therefrom in the direction of the first three-roll mill of the tandem, and, in order to remove any cane adhering to the rolls of the crusher, scrapers generally designated by the reference numerals 16 and 17 are provided which are in contact with rolls 13 and 14, respectively, and between which the cane passes to the first three roll mill. The roll 14 adjusts itself towards and away from roll 13 according to the amount of cane passing between these rolls, and in order that the scraper cooperating with the roll 14 may be in contact therewith at all times it is the usual practice to provide a support for the scraper adapted to urge A suitable means to this end may be provided by square bar 18, pivotally supported on frame 12, by brackets 19, of which two may be provided one at eachend of the crusher, bar 18 having secured thereto an arm 20, engaged by spring follower 21, acted on by compression spring 22, on rod 23, the latter having one end pivotally supported on frame 12,

by means of hook 24, engaging pin 25, in

frame 12, and the opposite end of rod 23 being provided with threads for the reception of nut 26, adjustably engaging washer 27, against which spring 22 reacts, nut 26 being locked on rod 23, by lock nut 28.

On two of the opposite faces 29 and 30 of bar 18 are angle brackets 31 and 32, secured to bar 18, by means of bolts 33, which pass through the brackets and the bar. Bracket 31 is provided with an arm 34, extending to a certain extent beyond the intermediate face 35, of bar 18, arm 34 being provided in its outer face with a series of parallel longitudinally extending substantially V-shaped grooves 36, in which are received substantially V-shaped ribs 37 of scraper sections 38. As shown particularly in Fig. 7, the scrap-er 17 is made up out of a plurality of sections 38, each of which may be provided at either or both ends thereof with teeth 39, adapted to enter the grooves between the ribs on acrusher roll, these ribs being well known in the art and not shown herein in detail. Each section may be, if preferred, of a width equal to the distance between two adjacent ribs on the roll surface and has its opposite side faces cut away at 40 and 41, these corresponding portions in adjacent sections forming openings 42 through which pass bolts 43, having heads 44, bearing against washers 45, resting on the outer faces of two adjacent sections 38, and the opposite ends of bolts 43, passing through arm 34 of bracket 31, to which they are secured by nut 46 and lock nut 47, a washer 48 being interposed between nut 46 and arm 34, if desired. At the ends of the rolls the wear of the scraper plates is substantially less than in the middle portions thereof, and if desired end sections may be provided of such a width that several teeth may be milled thereon. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, two teeth are provided on end section 38. Between the face 35 of bar 18 and the adjacent faces of the scraper sections 39 is a plate 49, extending in the directionof and beyond arm 50 of bracket 32, to which the plate is secured by means of bolts 51.

In use the sections 38 may be assembled on the bar 18, in close approximation to their final position and then each section adjusted individually to bring teeth 39 into contact with the corresponding grooves of the roll 14,

vbroken or badly worn the section or sections having the broken or worn teeth thereon may be readily replaced simply by withdrawing the adjacent bolts 44, placing the new sections in position and replacing the bolts. In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, teeth are provided on both ends of the sections so that when one end of a section becomes badly Worn or broken the opposite end may-be used.

The scraper 16 for roll 13 may be similar in form to that shown in connection with roll 14 but since most of the cane discharged by rolls 13 and 14 passes over the upper surface of scraper 16, it may be preferred to use a form of scraper in which there are less slots or other openings calculated to trap cane therein, and I will therefore describe a modi fied form of scraper suitable for use in connection with this roll, it being under-stood that this form could be used in connection with roll 14 as well.

The scraper 16 is made up out of a plurality of sections 52, having on either or both ends thereof teeth 53, of which there are shown two on each end of a section, the number thereof being subject to be increased, if desired, and the outer or end sections being provided with three teeth, due to the fact that less wear occurs at these points. A suitable mounting means for scraper 16 may be provided on crusher 11 by means of square bar 54, pivotally supported in brackets of which there are two, one at each end of frame 12 (only one being shown), bar 54 having secured on at least one end thereof an arm 56, engaged by a collar 57, on rod 58, the latter being pivotally secured to frame 12 by means of hook 59 engaging pin 60, the opposite end of rod 58 being threaded for the reception of nut 61, engaging collar 57, and locked in place by lock nut 62. On two of the opposite faces of bar 54 are brackets 63 and 64, the former being provided with an arm 65, hav ing therein a series of parallel V-shaped grooves 66, adapted to receive ribs 67 of scraper sections 52, while the bracket 64 is provided with an arm 68 on which is secured a plate 69 interposed between an intermediate face 70 of bar 54 and the adjacent faces of the scraper sections 52. Each section 52 is provided along a median line thereof with a slot 71 through which passes a bolt 72, having on one end a head 7 3 engaging the outer face of the scraper section and having its other end passing through bracket arm and secured against displacement by nut 74, and lock nut 75, a washer 76 being interposed between nut 74 and arm 65, if desired. It will be readily understood that the sections 52 may be changed and adjusted in a manner similar to sections 38.

When the cane has been crushed and disintegrated by the preliminary crusher it passes through a chute or other suitable conducting means to the first three-roll mill of the tandem. Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that I have shown therein a three-roll mill comprising as is usual in such mills, a frame 7 7, having mounted therein cane roll 78, bagasse roll 79 and top roll 80, cane roll 78 and bagasse roll 79 being mounted in relatively fixed bearings, while top roll 80 is mounted in adjustable bearings bein urged towards bagasse roll 79 and cane roll 8 by hydraulic bushing 81. (The bearings for the rolls and hydraulic bushing 81 may be of any usual or preferred form and are not shown herein in detail.)

The cane received from the crusher passes between top roll 80 and cane roll 78 over the top of the usual turn plate 82 and between top roll 80 and bagasse roll 79, where it is heavily pressed and considerable of the juice expressed therefrom. In order to remove any cane adhering to top roll 80 and bagasse roll 7 9, scrapers generally designated by the reference numerals 83 and 84, are provided in contact with rolls 80 and 7 9, respectively.

The scraper 83 is mounted on a bar 85 substantially equal in length to the length of the operative surface of the roll 80, and having at both ends thereof arms 86 pivotally supported on frame 77 by suitable means, as, for example, rod 87, the latter being pivotally supported in frame 77 and secured to arms 86 in any desired manner. The roll 80 adjusts itself towards and away from rolls 7 9, according to the amount of cane passing between these rolls, and in order that scraper 83 may be in contact with roll 80 at all times it is the usual practice, as in the crusher described above, to provide a spring, or other suitable means cooperating with the scraper and urging it against the roll. A suitable means to this end may be provided by an arm 88 secured to the rod 87 in any usual or desired manner, and engaged by spring follower 89, acted on by compression spring 90, mounted on rod 91, the latter having on one end thereof a hook 92, engaging a pin 93 in frame 77 and having its opposite end 94 provided with threads and passing through follower 89 and spring 90. Mounted on the end 94 of rod 91 in contact with spring 90 is a washer 95, secured against displacement by an adjustable nut 96, locked on rod 91 by lock nut 97.

The under face 98 of bar 85 is provided substantially throughout its length with transverse grooves 99, in which are received substantially V-shaped ribs 100 of scraper plate sections 101, each of the latter being substantially identical, having on its outer surface a series of relatively fine transverse grooves 102, and being secured to the bar 85 by means of a bolt 103, passing through a washer 104, having a series of parallel ribs 105 adapted to enter grooves 102, through slot 106, through bar 85, and having on its outer end nuts 107 and 108, which serve to clamp the scraper section securely in place.

Scraper 84 which is substantially identical to scraper 83 is pivotally supported on frame 77, by means of rod 109, and is held against roll 7 9 by means of arm 110, secured on rod 109 in any suitable manner, and held against outward movement by means of rod 111 pivotally supported on frame 7 7, bypin 112, in engagement with hook 113 on rod 111. The opposite end of rod 111 from hook 113 is threaded, as at 114, and mounted on this end is a collar 115, engaging arm 110, and secured against displacement by an adjustable nut 116, and lock nut 117.

The scraper sections 101 may be independently adjusted towards and away from the rolls with which they cooperate in much the same manner as the scraper sections provided for the crusher rolls, the ribs provided on the opposite faces of the sections 101 providing means for rigidly securing the sections to their adjacent support. The form of scraper shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 may, in certain aspects, be considered a modified form of that shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10,

and in the present instance when the scraper sections 101 are worn in teeth will be formed on the roll engaging edge portions of the sections, which enter the grooves in the mill rolls to remove any cane adhering therein. It will be readily understood that the pitch of the ribs 100 on the scraper sections and the roll with which these are in contact will be substantially the same, and while the roll contacting edges of the scraper sections, as shown in F 2, are straight and unbroken, it will be understood that when these sections have been in contact with the rolls any length of time, the ribs of the roll contacting therewith will wear the edges of the sections away, as shown in Fig. 5, until teeth are formed therein efi'ecting an efficient scraping edge. When the pitch of the roll grooves is of such magnitude that this wearing in process would consume too much time, it will be understood that the scraper sections 101, when made, may be machined to approximate conformity with the roll grooves, and in such case they will have toothed or serrated edges as shown in connection with the crusher roll scrapers in Figs. 7 and 9.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood that I have provided a form of scraper for a cane mill roll or the like which may be readily adjusted to it the contacting surface of the roll and in which small portions of the scraper may be adjusted or replaced without disturbing the remainder of the scraper.

lVhile I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is not to be limited to all the details shown but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is 1. In a cane mill or the like, a roll, a scraper for said roll, sa d scraper comprising a plurality of sections, supporting means for said sections, said sections being capable of independent adjustment on said supporting means towards said roll, and means for securing said sections to said support against movement thereon, said means including a plurality of ribs on said sections seated in a plurality of grooves in said securing means and a plurality of means for urging the sections independently against the support.

2. In a cane mill or the like, a roll and a scraper for said roll, said scraper comprising a support, a plurality of scraper sections, and means for mounting said sections immovably on said support, said mounting means being adjustable to permit free movement of one section'relatively to an adjacent section and towards said roll while the remaining sections are held immovably in lace.

p 3. In a cane mill or the like, a roll and a scraper for said roll, said scraper comprising a support and a plurality of scraper sections mounted on said support, and means for securing said scraper sections to said support for independent adjustment relatively to the roll, including interlocking means to positively prevent movement of the scraper sections not being adjusted.

4. I11 a cane mill or the like, av roll and a scraper for said roll, said scraper comprising a support and a plurality of scraper sections mounted on said support and adapted to contact with an element of the roll surface sub-- stantially throughout the length thereof, said scraper being movable as a unit towards said roll, and means for securing said sections independently on said support for independent movement towards said roll, said securing means comprising a plurality of slots in said sections, and bolts passing through said slots and said common support for the scraper sections and securing the sections independently to the support.

5. In acane mill or the like, a roll, said roll having a plurality of circumferential V-shaped grooves forming V-shaped ridges on the roll surface, and a scraper for said roll, said scraper comprising a support and a. plurality of scraper sections mounted on said support for independent relative movement towards said roll, said sections being provided on the opposite ends thereof with teeth adapted to enter the grooves of the roll, said sections being reversible and interchangeable.

6. In a cane mill or the like, aframe, a roll mounted in said frame and a scraper for said roll, said scraper including a bar extending longitudinally of said roll, a scraper plate mounted on said bar and having an operative edge in engagement with an element of the roll surface substantially throughout the length thereof, said plate comprising a plurality of sections each of which is independently adjustable on said bar in the direction of said roll, and a plurality of means for securing the sections on the bar, whereby certain of said sections may be moved relatively to the bar while the remaining sections are held against movement.

7. In a cane mill or the like, a roll and a scraper for said roll, said scraper comprising a bar extending longitudinally of the roll, and a scraper plate mounted on said bar and having an operative edge in engagement with an element of the roll surface substantially throughout the length thereof, said plate being made up of a plurality of abutting sections, and means for clamping said sections to said bar, said clamping means permitting the loosening of one section for adjustment in the direction of the roll, while an adjacent section is maintained in clamped condition.

8. In a cane mill or the like, a roll and a scraper for said roll, said scraper comprising a bar extending longitudinally of the roll, a

scraper plate mounted on said bar and provided with an operative edge adapted to contact with an element of the roll surface substantially throughout the length of the same, a plurality of plate securing means arranged at spaced intervals throughout the length of the plate, said plate being divided into a number of abutting independently adjustable sections, and positive means for holding said sections independently against movement towards or away from the roll after adjustment thereof.

9. In a cane mill or the like, a roll and a scraper for said roll, said scraper comprising a bar extending longitudinally of said roll, a scraper plate mounted on said bar and having an operative edge in engagement with an element of the roll surface substantially throughout the length of the same, said scraper plate being divided into a plurality of abutting sections mounted for independent adjustment in the direction of the roll, and a plurality of section securing means passing through the sections and adapted to secure the sections rigidly and independently to the bar.

10. In a cane mill or the like, a roll and a scraper for said roll, said scraper being provided with an operative edge in engagement with an element of the roll surface substantially throughout the length thereof, said scraper being made up of a plurality of independently adjustable sections, and adjustable means for holding said sections independently against relative movement away from said roll.

11. In a cane mill or the like, a roll, a scraper for said roll, and means for supporting said scraper in the mill, said scraper comprising a plurality of independently adjustable sections, and means for holding said sections against movement in the direction of the roll, said means including interlocking elements on the scraper sections and scraper supporting means for locking one of an adj acent pair of plates against movement while the other plate is released for adjustment.

I In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this third day of January, 1928.

WILLIAM DUNN. 

